New Thrift Store To Benefit People And Animals
September 23, 2009
A group of pet-minded volunteers have found a way to help the animals and people all at the same time.
The Junior Humane Society has opened its own Thrift Store in Cantonment at the corner of Highway 29 North and Neal Road. Proceeds will benefit JHS activities, such as finding homes for homeless cats and dogs, while also providing unbelievable bargains for area residents battling tough economic times.
The store features a variety of clothing for all ages, shoes, office furniture, kitchen supplies, books, toys, pet supplies and other items with new merchandise arriving daily. It will be open four days a week, but days and times could change in the months ahead.
The store is a dream come true for Frankie Van Horn Harris, director of the Junior Humane Society.
“It’s something I didn’t think I would ever see in my lifetime, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do as a fundraiser,” said Harris. She said a volunteer, Amanda Gifford, heard about the property being available.
A deal was made, and soon, Gifford, along and two other volunteers, Kristi Kirby and Crystal Clanton, were busy preparing the store for customers.
The store also features a wall featuring photos of dogs and cats looking for new homes through JHS.
“We are all excited about the thrift store. We hope to hold pet adoptions, bathing parties, and other events here,” she said.
JHS welcomes donations — just leave items on the front porch if the store is closed.
The JHS Thrift Store is open Wednesday – Friday from noon until 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Grand Opening will be Saturday, October 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pictured top: JHS Volunteers (L-R) Kristi Kirby, Amanda Gifford, Crystal Clanton, Mary Foster, Director Frankie Van Horn Harris, Christa Pettijohn, Elizabeth Irby and Janet Lewis outside the new JHS Thrift Store in Cantonment. Pictured inset: Frankie Van Horn Harris, director of the Junior Humane Society. Pictured below: Map showing the store location.
Urban Legend? Standing An Egg On Its End As Fall Begins
September 22, 2009
Fall officially began at 4:18 Tuesday afternoon — the fall equinox. Urban legend says that you can stand an egg on its end on the spring and fall equinox, but we found many websites that say there’s nothing special about the two times of the year.
But in the interest of science, and with risk of having scrambled eggs, we tried it anyway here NorthEscambia.com. We were able to stand several eggs on end with little effort and no accidents.
Urban legend? We are not sure if we are able to stand eggs on end at other times of the year. No one here has ever tried.
Pictured above: A couple of raw eggs standing on end on a floor at NorthEscambia.com about 4:20 Tuesday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
One Step At A Time: Chiles Begins Florida Awareness Walk In North Escambia
September 22, 2009
Century was the first step for Lawton “Bud” Chiles on a one million step — 566 miles — walking journey across Florida to raise awareness of children’s health, education and safety issues in the state.
Chiles is retracing the steps of his father, former Florida Governor Lawton Mainor Chiles, Jr.
The journey of One Million Steps started quietly at the Alabama-Florida line Sunday afternoon, honoring the historic 1970 walk of Gov. Chiles as he ran for the U.S. Senate. Bud Chiles, who often traveled with his father on his journey, will walk across Florida in an effort to inspire one million Floridians to become involved in volunteering and making Florida a better place for children.
The walk got into full swing Monday in Century, with stops at the Camp Fire USA Childcare Program, where Chiles received a warm welcome from the children as he read books to the VPK class, learned about the vision and hearing screenings and had lunch with the three-year olds as they sang the “Green Song”.
“We had a wonderful visit,” said Tammy Bryer from Camp Fire. “Early childhood education, increasing child care subsidies so people can work, and prevention programs were discussed as part of his awareness campaign.”
Chiles visited the Century Pharmacy, a sponsor of the Imagination Library and other children’s programs. Children 0-5 were registered for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library that provides a free, age-appropriate book delivered to their home monthly. Free books were also handed out to children at the pharmacy.
“Our children’s education should come first in the state of Florida. We should be leading the nation in offering the very best education to our children not being in the ‘worse’,” said Moran.
Chiles also visited New Life Baptist Church to read to children during his stop in Century.
Chile’s organization, Worst to First, seeks to move Florida away from the bottom in education and other children’s issues.
By walking across the state and talking one on one with Floridians about issues facing the state, Chiles hopes to find solutions for Florida from the people.
“I saw first hand the unique bond he forged as he listened to people,” Bud Chiles said of his father’s walk and his desire to help children and families. “In the past 10 years, sadly, we have suffered from a lack of that leadership from our state’s politicians.”
“I want to help tell your stories about what is working and what is broken,” Chiles said of his desire to listen to Floridians as he walks across the state. “Florida’s politicians are out of touch, and we can’t count on Washington to fix what is broken. With your help, we will make Florida a place for children again.”
Late Monday afternoon, Chiles had walked down Highway 29 to just south of Bogia. His journey will take him into Pensacola by Wednesday.
For more photos from Chiles’ walk, click here.
Pictured top: Lawton “Bud” Chiles on his One Million Stop walk in North Escambia Monday afternoon. Pictured middle: The children at Camp Fire USA made this sign to welcome Chiles. Pictured bottom: Children reads to Camp Fire students. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Nursing Home Residents Remember, Create New Memories
September 20, 2009
An “Afternoon of Memories” was held Saturday at Century Care Center.
Past Century Care Center residents were remembered and all current residents were honored during the program. Residents and their families then had the opportunity to make memory boxes together following the program.
The Afternoon of Memories was sponsored by Century Care Center, Covenant Hospice and Century United Methodist Church.
Pictured: Century Care Center residents and family members took part in an Afternoon of Memories Saturday. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Arrr, Matey! Shiver Me Timbers! Talk Like A Pirate Day
September 19, 2009
The residents at Century Care Center celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day on Friday.
Residents donned eye patches and pirate ships roamed the hallways as the residents celebrated the international fun day that was created in 1995.
Click here for more photos from Talk Like a Pirate Day at Century Care Center.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Teen Hit By Bus Thankful That She Is Alive
September 16, 2009
A Bratt teenager says she is lucky to be alive after being bumped by her school bus when it was slammed from behind Tuesday morning on Highway 4.
Courtney Gibson, 17, was crossing the road in front of her bus to board it when the bus was struck from the rear by a van driven by her neighbor. The impact sent the front of the van under the bus, pushing the bus forward about 21 feet and into Courtney’s arm. The impact was so severe it lifted the bus into the air; the back tires of the bus were left a few inches off the ground, supported by the van. Her only injury is a small bruise on her arm.
“I could have been killed, but I was so blessed,” she said. “I do thank God. He’s obviously got a plan for my life.”
It started as an ordinary day for Courtney and her mom, Janis Weaver. Like clockwork, Janis headed out of the driveway at 5:45 a.m., driving “BE 1″, Bryneville Elementary School’s new bus. At 6:15, Courtney was at the end of the driveway waiting for her bus to take her to West Florida High School where she is a senior. She is the first student to get on the bus each day.
“I looked both ways before crossing the road. I almost got hit one time before, so I try to be careful,” Courtney said.
“I saw him, but I thought he stopped,” she said of the van driven by Jesse Warner, 36. Jesse lives just four houses away. She continued across the street, around the guard at the front of the bus — an arm that extends to keep students from walking too close to the front of the bus where they can’t be seen by the driver.
“All of the sudden, Jesse’s van slammed into the bus. It moved forward and hit me in the arm. All is remember is screaming,” she said. “I got up and got on the bus.
“I was shaken and scared. I started crying when I talked to my mom (on the phone).”
Courtney also credits her survival to the quick thinking of her bus driver, Brenda Strickland of Pensacola. Strickland pulled the emergency brake, helping to stop the forward motion of the bus. Brenda was not injured in the crash, but she’s taking some time off before returning to work later this week.
“Mrs. Brenda is my hero; without her quick thinking, that bus could have rolled right over me.”
Once on the bus, Courtney did not realize the severity of the crash, and she did not know that it was her neighbor that had slammed into the bus. Once she was back off the bus, she knew the crash was bad, but it was some period of time before she realized who had hit the bus.
“I feel so bad for him, and I feel to bad for his kids,” she said. “I can imagine how they feel at this time.”
At West Florida High School, Courtney is working on becoming a certified nursing assistant. She has plans to study ultrasound at Pensacola Junior College and become a sonographer.
But she realizes that dream was almost cut short Tuesday morning.
“I almost didn’t get that chance,” Courtney said. “I just thank God that I did.”
For more information about the accident, click here for another story.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EWMS Cheerleaders Raise Money With Old Gold
September 16, 2009
Ernest Ward Middle School teacher Cynthia Wilson turned scrap gold into money in her pocket Tuesday afternoon, helping the school’s cheerleaders raise money at the same time.
Wilson and dozens of people like her sold their old and sometimes damaged jewelry during a “Gold Party” at the school. The concept was simple — show up with unwanted, broken or used gold pieces and leave with a check.
“Wow, I’m really quite surprised,” Wilson said when she received her check for almost $200. About $30 was going to her daughter for items that belonged to her, “and the reset is mine,” she said.
“It was just junk,” she said about the small pile of jewelry she sold, which even included earrings that had long since lost their match.
For every dollar paid out to those selling their gold, the EWMS cheerleaders received 10 percent. After two gold parties last week and about a half hour start on Tuesday’s party, the cheerleaders had already made about $1,000, according to Andrea Tompkins of Golden Girls, LLC., the company buying the gold.
Pictured above: Ernest Ward teacher Cynthia Wilson sells her unwanted gold to Andrea Tompkins at a Gold Party sponsored by the EWMS cheerleaders. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Bratt, Molino Park Hold Open House
September 11, 2009
Bratt and Molino Park elementary schools held their annual open house events Thursday evening. Parents of fifth grade students at Molino Park are encouraged to attend a fifth grade orientation and parent meeting on Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 in the school cafeteria. Pictured above: Students and parents in Gina Bashore’s second grade class at Bratt Elementary Thursday night. Picture below: Bratt PTA members sell memberships and t-shirts. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Take Part In Event To Benefit Molino Cancer Patient
September 8, 2009
Dozens of motorcyclists took part in a 75-mile Labor Day ride from Atmore Monday.
The ride was to benefit cancer patient Sonja Luker of Molino. Organizers said 48 bikers took part in the event, which also featured live music and several family-fun activities.
For a complete photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Chris and Sonja Luker at a benefit motorcycle ride Monday morning at the Alabama Wing House in Atmore. Pictured inset and below: Dozen of bikers took part in the benefit ride for Sonja Luker. NorthEscambia.com photoss, click to enlarge.
Hundreds Turn Out For Bull Bash, Including Century Care Center Residents
September 6, 2009
Hundreds of people attended the second annual Bull Bash Blowout Saturday night in Flomaton, including several residents from Century Care Center. The bull bash was presented by the Tri Cities Rotary Club, MK Farm and Rafter L Farm. Some of the top bull riders from the Southeast were on hand to ride some of the meanest bulls the South has to offer, according to event organizers. The Tri-City Rotary Club’s membership area includes Flomaton, Century and Jay. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
